Sure, snow is fun. But there are many cold, gray days where they have to stay inside. Thankfully, you can help your children this winter by using the internet. With the right sites and online activities, they can both learn and have fun despite being stuck inside. But before going online, you need to make sure your children know how to be safe.

Staying Safe on the Internet

Before letting them loose with your iPad, teach your kids some basics on internet safety. Parenting.com explains that you need to teach them to be private. That means not sharing any personal details, but it also means not opening strange emails or talking to people online without your permission.

In the beginning, you should explore activities online together. While you cannot always be there, you can teach your kids how to be safe online by modeling the correct behavior. Show them how to search for safe sites and what links you shouldn’t click on.

Learning Can Be Fun

What should your children focus on? Although they go to school during the week, there’s always more to learn. And because the internet can make learning fun, you can educate your kids in fun ways.

Sites like PBS Kids and Starfall offer video games that are actually educational, a perfect combination for your kids. Start by going through these sites with your children so you can help them navigate. Then you can let your kids play and learn.

Some online destinations offer ways to learn and have fun offline as well. For example, EarthScienceJr.com lists some educational and entertaining activities you can do in real life. From playing Jenga to learning strategy to creating mazes that challenge the brain, these can be a great way to spend a cold winter’s day.

Getting Healthier

All the learning in the world won’t help much with your child’s energy level. Kids need to be active, not just to fight childhood obesity, but to burn off some of that energy! Because this is winter, it’s not like they can run around outside until they’re tired.

Fortunately, you can go online again for some exercise videos for kids. While these won’t be as intense as a crossfit session, your children can have fun dancing, doing yoga, and exercising to get rid of some pent-up energy. You can even help your kids learn about health and fitness through fun games. There are many sites that offer simple games to teach about healthy snacking, fitness, and overall health.

Go Online This Winter

Instead of just waiting until it’s warm enough to go outside, help your kids enjoy staying inside this winter by letting them explore the internet. Model how to stay safe online, then let your kids explore learning games and exercise videos. This year, turn winter into something that builds your children’s bodies and brains.

This guest post was contributed by Jenny Wise jenny@specialhomeeducator.com.  Image Source: Pixabay